Mariners just missed prime opportunity to sign 2 cheap lefty relievers

Not only has it been a quiet offseason for Seattle Mariners fans, but it has been one of missed opportunities. The Mariners signed infielders Donovan Solano and Jorge Polanco to one-year contracts to address the infield, but questions remain about the bullpen.

The Mariners did get good news on Monday when Matt Brash was closer to returning than previously projected. However, Seattle still has few left-handed options, as Tayler Saucedo and Gabe Speier are the only two southpaws on the 40-man roster.

Two relievers that were available for the Mariners were Danny Coulombe and Tim Hill. Coulombe underwent surgery last season to remove bone spurs in his pitching elbow, but when he was healthy, he was a reliable reliever for the Orioles. In 2023, Coulombe pitched in 61 games and held a 2.81 ERA. He also picked up 58 strikeouts thanks in part to a new cut fastball and improved sinker he developed with the O's.

Now healthy, Coulombe would have been a great left-handed option to come out of the bullpen for the Mariners, but on Tuesday, Coulombe signed a one-year, $3 million deal to return to the Minnesota Twins. 

After being released by the woebegone Chicago White Sox, Hill resurrected his career with the New York Yankees. The sidearm southpaw accumulated 0.9 WAR in 35 games with the Yankees while posting a 2.05 ERA and a 1.8 walks per nine innings. It appeared as if Hill found a recipe for success when he was in the Bronx, which should have prompted the Mariners to reach out to him. Unfortunately, Hill re-signed with the Yankees to a one-year, $2.85 million contract.  

This offseason, the Mariners have acquired pitchers Casey Legumina, Hagen Danner, Neftalí Féliz, and Will Klein this offseason as potential bullpen reinforcements. However, with the exception of Féliz, the other four names have minimal experience at the MLB level. Not to mention, all of those are right-handed pitchers. 

As the first day of spring training draws near, the Mariners do not have a solid left-handed reliever. Coulombe and Hill would have been good bargain additions to the Mariners bullpen, but somehow Jerry Dipoto and Co. let even the cheapest of possibilities pass them by.